Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Where Is God In What You Wear?

I know a lot of people who like to stay up with the trends. They like to know what is in style, and what isn't; what's the biggest rave in Paris, and what's wrong to wear after Labor Day. While it is ok to know what is in fashion, sometimes wearing what is in fashion is not. A lot of the latest fashion these days shows a lot of skin, leaves little to the imagination and promotes who you are and what you stand for in the wrong way.

Magazines like Cosmopolitan, YM, etc, tend to contain material that does not live up to the Christian standard. Many of these magazines promote sexual themes and portray fashion as a competition to see who can show the most skin. What's sad is the fact that those who read it buy into the lies that are advertised by them.

As Christians, we need to represent Christ in a true and undistorted way. When Christian girls go around wearing some of the clothes that are suggested in these magazines (which show too much skin and leave little to the imagination) all they are doing is attracting the wrong guys. Ladies, you must realize that guys are physical beings; we are drawn to physical things. How can you expect to attract a Christian guy if what you are wearing shows too much skin? The truth is that Christ can't be represented in the way He is meant to be represented when you wear short miniskirts, low tops and other revealing clothing.

Romans 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world..."

This passage urges us to give our bodies to God as LIVING sacrifices; our body should be holy and pleasing to Him. Many people don't understand this. They get things wrong and dress themselves in secular ways so that they can please those of this world; this passage is telling us that our bodies should be pleasing to GOD!

What is said next in this passage is something that should not be missed: "this is your spiritual act of worship". Worship is not just something that we do at a church on the weekends, it is something that we are constantly doing!

Is what you are wearing pleasing to God? Does it distort His image? The next time you find yourself in a situation where you could be convinced that the fashion of this world is worth distorting God's image, remember the first part of verse two in Romans 12, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world". As Christians, God does not want us to promote things that are of this world; we are to promote His image. From now on, when you walk into your closet, ask yourself if what you are going to put on will attract the wrong kind of guy. If it is then don't wear it.

While I do understand your point about the increasingly sexy clothes found on the street and in magazines, I think you give misguided advice. Women have a right to wear whatever they feel comfortable in, regardless of who they may end up attracting. Women need not be bound to the constraints of men who are simply looking at them for physical gratification. While women should be concious of the clothes they wear, men should also be given much of the blame for acting on these physical desires simply because a girl feels more comfortable in a halter top and skirt instead of a tshirt and sweatpants. Girls have a right to want to dress girly and pretty, men do not have a right to blame women for any mistreatment that they may receive simply because their clothes are too sexy.

My advice is not misguided; what I have to say is the truth. If what you wear is a too revealing then you will get the guys that look for girls like that.

Women may not need to be bound to the constraints of men, but Christians are bound to the guidance and moral standards that God's word expresses.

I have a feeling a haltertop isn't too comfortable. I always see girls pulling on them in order to keep them up. Same thing with skirts, I see plenty of girls who wear short skirts and spend all day tugging at them.

I actually like girls who wear sweatpants and t-shirts. That's more natural. I don't want to be tempted by seeing too much skin. Guys have a hard time with things like that; why would you want to make it harder for us?

All in all, if you want a guy to like you for you, wear clothes that aren't revealing... if he sticks around then you'll know he's not there for your looks but rather your inner beauty. And if you are a Christian, you need to take a stand back and see whether or not this "comfort" that you find in the revealing clothes is really for "comfort". If it is, then you have to ask yourself if it makes you happy at the expense of not meeting Christ's expectations.